KNIGHT MOVES | As summer starts, we swoon over June

By Craig Knight

It’s June, and summer is officially here! The year 2026 is moving at a fast pace, and this month is packed with history, celebration, and great sports. 

PUT A SONG IN YOUR HEART 

June is Black Music Month — officially known as African-American Music Appreciation Month — and its origin is a great story. Legendary music producer Kenneth Gamble, media strategist Dyana Williams, and radio deejay Ed Wright successfully lobbied President Jimmy Carter, who formally declared the national observance on June 7, 1979. 

Black Music Month celebrates the roots of Black music across an extraordinary range of genres: spirituals, gospel, folk, blues, jazz, country, R&B, rock and roll, hip-hop, and rap. African-American composers have also made transformative contributions to opera, classical symphony, musical theater, and choral music. In every form, these musical influences represent an essential and treasured part of our nation’s cultural heritage.

GETTING READY FOR JUNETEENTH 

Friday, June 19 is Juneteenth! The name blends two words — “June” and “nineteenth” — and since 2021 it has been a federal holiday in the United States. 

To understand why it matters, a little history: slavery in America traces back to the 16th century, when Spanish explorers brought enslaved Africans to the New World. It persisted until the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863 — but even then, Texas remained largely under Confederate control and continued to resist abolition. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce emancipation in the state. The newly freed people took to the streets in joyful public celebration, laying the foundation for every Juneteenth commemoration that followed. 

Today, Juneteenth is marked with cookouts and barbecues, block parties, flag-raising ceremonies, community service awards, art and essay competitions for young people, and Juneteenth displays in city halls, libraries, schools, and post offices. 

This year, the celebration comes to Craig Ranch Park on Friday, June 19 with the F.A.I.T.H. Freedom Festival — the brainchild of the Chaney Family and F.A.I.T.H. Wellness Services Incorporated. The festival is free and open to the whole family, featuring cultural vendors, food trucks, and music by KCEP Power 88.1’s own NotAboiDJ. It will be hosted by DJ Ambeezy from The Wake Up Squad Morning Show, with local performances and national recording and rap artist Twista headlining! Gates open at 6 p.m. with a fireworks finale at 9:15 p.m. 

JUNE SPORTS! 

The WNBA season is in full effect, with the Las Vegas Aces gunning for another championship — LET’S GO A-C-E-S! The Vegas Golden Knights made the Western Conference Finals again — GO KNIGHTS GO!!!

STAY AWARE! 

June is also a month of awareness, including: Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, Men’s Health Month, National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month, ● LGBTQ Pride Month, Caribbean American Heritage Month, and Immigrant Heritage Month. 

As we celebrate Black Music Month, Juneteenth, professional sports, and all that June has to offer — let’s remember to do it responsibly. 

Until the next edition of Knight Moves: educate yourself, and share the knowledge with others. God bless you!